Means for propelling boats



July 17, 1928. 1,677,847

J. Y. PROPST MEANS F071 PROPELLING BOATS Fn eyo 12, .1927

amen? Jacoi )1 Propai Patented July 17, 1928.

UNITED STATES JACOB Y. PROPST, OF OHATCHEE, ALABAMA.

MEANS FOR PROPELLING BOATS.

Application filed November 12, 1927. Serial No. 232,815.

The object of my invention is the provision of improved means for propelling small boats, such as are known as row-boats, and whereby the operator may face the'bow or direction in which the boat is being propolled.

The invention consists in certain novelties of construction and in the combination of parts as herein set forth and specified-in the claims.

The accompanying drawing illustrates an example of the embooiinent of the invention,

the parts being constructed and combined according to the best of the several modes I have so far devised for the practical application of the principle.

Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a rowboat with my improved propelling means shown attached to one side of the beat, it being understood that similar propelling means are attached to the opposite side thereof and adapted to be simultaneously operated.

Figure 2 is'an enlarged View of part of one side of the boat with the propelling leans, alsoenlarged, secured in operative position; 1 Figure 3 is a cross sectional view of Figure 2 on the line 33, showing the propelling means partly in section, the vertical barv and oar blade being in elevation.

Figure l is a partial cross section of Figure 2 on line 4-4, showing the adjustable brake or stop.

Referring to the figures, the numeral 1 designates the longitudinal side of the body of the boat; 2, 2, two vertical supporting bars spaced apart with their lower ends secured to the outer surface of the side of the boat by screws or bolts; 3, 8, two horizontal guide bars spaced apart and secured to the supporting bars; 4, 4, the beveled edges of the bars, one beveled edge facing the other; 5, a movable block having its top and bottom edges provided with V-shaped grooves 63, 6 within which the bevelededges a, 4 of the guide bars are loosely seated; 7, the lever bar, one end of which is fashioned to form a handle or arm 8, and the other part passed through the block 5 to which it is rigidly secured and extended beyond the side of the boat; 9, the vertical bar having near its upper end several rectangular shaped slots or holes 10, one of which receives the projecting end of the lever bar, the end of said lever bar being fashioned to tightly fit any one of the slots 10, whereby the vertical bar may be adjusted up or down relative to the plane or surface of the water; 11, the oar blade pivoted to the lower end of the vertical bar by a boltor rod 12 so the blade may freely turn about the pivotal'point;113, the slightly curved or turned end of the oar blade; 14:, a projecting part of the metal of the ear blade; 15, an adjustable sleeve on the vertical bar provided with a thumbscrew 16 for securing the sleeve in differentpositions on the bar; 17, a downwardly projecting part of the sleeve adapted to be en- 1 l by the projection 14 on the oar blade;

18 a hand lug for raising and lowering the sleeve on the bar.

Referring especially to Figure 4, a plate 19 having a slot 20 and outwardly turned endQl is secured to the rear bar 2 by threaded bolts and butterfly nuts 22 so the plate may be raised and lowered to correspond with the raised or lowered position of the oar blade supporting bar 4:, said projecting end ofthe plate serving as a brake or stop for the bar when it reaches the rearward end of its travel.

It will be observed thatthe mechanism in connection with the boat constitutes a lever of the second'class wherein the fulcrum' is beyond both the power and the resistancethe oar blade being the fulcrum, the handle for the operator being the power arm, and the boat, or, rather, the resistance I of the water which is to be overcome, being the resistance. I

The operation is as follows: The block, carrying the handle, vertical bar and ear blade being at the front ends of the guide bars, the operator pulls the same rearwardly the length of the guide bars. As the oar blade is the fulcrum, this action moves the heat through the water a distance corresponding to the energy imparted. The block with its attachments is then moved forwardly by the operator to its original position, the oar blade turning on its pivot to a horizontal position so it will offer but little resistance in the water. The curved point or edge of the oar blade aids in quickly turning the blade to a horizontal position, as is obvious. Another rearward pull of the block turns the oar blade to a vertical position where the projection 14 .on the oar blade engaging the downwardly projecting part 17 of the sleeve prevents it from further turning on its pivot, and gives another forward movement to the boat.

At the end of the rearward travel of the block between the guide bars the bar 9 contacts with the outwardly turned end 21 of the plate on the bar 2, which turned end serves as a brake or stop and prevents further rearward travel.

The adjustable sleeve 15 may be raised with the downward projection 17 when the boat is to be backed so the oar blade can turn to a horizontal position at the left of the bar 9 and offer no resistance.

The opposite side of the boat is, of course, provided with the same apparatus as that illustrated and described.

From the foregoing it is clear that I have provided an improved propelling apparatus for rowboats which will allow the operator to face the bow of the boat when moving the same forwardly.

lVhile I have specifically shown and described only one mode of the application of the principle of the invention, in practice various changes, modifications, and additions may be adopted; for instance, other means for holding in position and guiding the block 5 may be used, and ball bearings be provided for the block to reduce friction, without constituting a substantial departure.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a boat, of a reciprocating block, guide bars secured to the side of the boat loosely engaging the said block for guiding the same in, its movements; a lever bar one end of which is fashioned to form a handle or arm and the other endpassed through the reciprocating block to which it is rigidly secured and extended beyond the side of the boat; a vertical bar rigidly secured to the extended end of the lever bar; an oar blade pivoted to the lower end of the said vertical bar; and means for limiting the movement of the oar blade through an arc of approximately 90 in the water.

2. The subject-matter of claim 1 wherein the said vertical bar is provided with a pluralit-y of slots, as 10, and the extended end of the lever bar is fashioned to tightly fit within any one 01" said slots, whereby said vertical bar may be adjusted relative to the extended end of the reciprocating lever bar and block. 7

3. The subject-matter o1 claim lwherein the end of said oar blade is slightly turned or curved for the purpose set forth.

4. The subject-matter of claim 1 wherein the means for limiting the movement of the car blade through an arc'of approximately 90 consists of an adjustable sleeve with a projection adapted to engage and limit the movement of the oar blade in one direction.

5. The combination with a boat, of a reciprocating block, a guide tor the block supported by the side of the boat; a lever arm passed throu h and secured to the block, the

end being extended beyond the side of the boat; a vertical bar secured to the extended end of the lever arm; and an oar blade pivoted to the lower end of the vertical bar; said reciprocating block, lever arm, and vertical bar being rigidly united so that they will move as a unit. v

6. The subject-matter of claim 5 with the addition of means for limiting the rearward movement of the vertical bar comprising an adjustable plate 19 secured to the boat at the end of the guide for'the reciprocating block.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JACOB Y. rnors'r. 

